“This was a disgraceful show, not election” – Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s mother on presidential election of Football Federation of Armenia
After the elections of the President of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) and members of the FFA Executive Committee, the longstanding and already former member of the Executive Committee Marina Tashchyan talked to journalists. Let us remind that Marina Tashchyan was going to become Vice-President of the FFA if Tovmas Grigoryan was elected.
Marina Tashchyan is also the mother of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the pride of Armenian football.
– How do you view the elections?
– It was disgraceful. I didn’t want to speak. I had decided to keep silent because there would be different commentaries, but I couldn’t keep silent. This was a disgraceful show, not an election. In other words, everything was previously planned, everything was done, there was nothing left to do. I understood everything during the elections. To tell you the truth, people who aren’t in the football sector might not have understood what was going on, but people who have been in the football sector for a long time, understood, and I have been in the football sector for 40 years. I had never seen such a disgraceful thing.
– Could you elaborate? Whom do you blame, or why do you think these elections were phony or disgraceful?
– You might understand, if you watch the elections. I believe it was clear to everyone that everything had been previously planned. They had met with all the football clubs, and I don’t know what conditions they had offered to the clubs to make such a decision, but it is a fact that I have been in the football sector for 40 years, I was nominated by the “Renewed Pyunik” football club, and they did everything to make sure “Renewed Pyunik” didn’t participate in the elections…
– What do you think the reason for this is?
– Perhaps I was disturbing them in the football sector, and they decided that I shouldn’t be a part of the Executive Committee.
– Did “Renewed Pyunik” have any ties with Ruben Hayrapetyan? Perhaps this was the reason.
– Yes, Ruben Hayrapetyan’s son was involved in this. I didn’t even know which team had nominated me. During the first couple of days, I was nominated by “Achajur” football club. A couple of days later, I found out that “Achajur” had come to the Federation and said there was a mistake and that it had another candidate. I don’t know why “Achajur” changed its mind.
– How will Armenian football develop?
– Time will tell, but I don’t think it will develop in this situation.
– How would you assess the qualities of Armen Melikbekyan?
– I think you can assess them better than me. How can I assess them? He speaks very well and is very handsome. The only thing left is to see how he will work.
…I’m sorry, but anyone can give that much money, bring a technical director or a head of referee department. Anyone can do anything with money. They could have done it with their local specialists.
– What did you notice in the electoral process that you view as disgraceful? Didn’t the candidate have the right to have meetings?
– Just the fact that Melkbekyan’s headquarters was located in the building of the FFA was enough for me to understand. I think he should have gone on vacation. If you worked for a boss running in elections, wouldn’t you do everything you could to make sure he or she was elected?
– Do you think there was pressure on voters before the elections?
– I think so.
– Have you planned your future actions?
– No, I haven’t. If they don’t want to use my knowledge of football, I have nothing to say. However, I’m going to fight until the end.
After the special session of the Football Federation of Armenia, Marina Tashchyan approached newly elected President of the Football Federation of Armenia Armen Melikbekyan and told him that she was going to get to the bottom of all this.
Watch the video for details.
GOHAR SAVZYAN
